Messerschmitt Bf 110D-0, M8+AB, W.Nr. ????

[Kjetil Aakra]

Hi all.

I am currently busy writing a book with Andreas Brekken. During research for this book I have encountered a few mysteries, one in particular which I am keen to solve.

It has to do with a Bf 110D-0 marked M8+AB of Stab ZG 76. Andreas and me have been fortunate enough to obtain a previously unpublished photo of this fascinating aircraft. However, in my files I have some photocopies of the same aircraft, this time with the makeshift ventral 900 litre drop tank used in Norway by ZG 76, but otherwise similar. The problem is I cannot remember where I got these photocopies! I think it was one of the old Karl Ries books (Dora-Kurfurst - und Rote 13 or whatever their name was). There are two photos of this aircraft in that book, one from the front part and one showing the starboard side taken from the rear.

If anyone know where this photos were published and especially who has the current copyright I would be very grateful. I am trying to trace the Werknummer of this aircraft and it may be readable on one of the above-mentioned photos.

Here's a copuple of profiles of the aircraft in questions, the Werknummer of course being provisional (for now, I hope).



Regards,

Kjetil Aakra

[Larry Hickey]

Kjetil,

Nice profiles. A photo of M8+AB of Stab I./ZG76 is in the Ries books (I have them all). It is on P. 109 of "Dora-Kurfürst und rotte 13." This, however, is not contemporary with the photos you're apparently working from that show Hptm. Werner Restemeyer's aircraft in Norway during the late-spring or summer of 1940. The one in the Ries book of M8+AB is circa the Polish Campaign with the narrow white border to the crosses, and the 1939-style swastica on the tail. There is a single victory tab on the upper fin. This would be the aircraft of Hptm. Günther Reinecke. This same photo is on P. 31 of the Bf110 book by the old Aero Pubishers, incorrectly listed as a Bf110D-3 of II./ZG76. I have a number of photos of your aircraft in my EOE Data Base. The photo that you're asking about (miscaptioned) may have come from "Fledgling Eagles" by Chris Shores P. 139. It has the wide version of the "A" depicted in your profiles. A photo of this same aircraft was won by sudek13 on 21.9.06 Auction #270029077157. You can't see the underside of the fuselage in this view, but it does have the wide "A" in the code. If you have a relationship with the sudek organization, they might be willing to provide you with a copy.

I have three other photos of M8+AB, one from the Jochen Prien Collection and two others from the Peter Petrick Collection. These show a much narrower "A," and one of them is apparently your upper profile, because it shows the extra drop tank under the belly. If this is your upper aircraft, you have the shape of the "A" wrong. I have no images of M8+AB as a "Dauchelbach." I fear that you may have composited some photos to get your top image, and, as a result, got some of the details wrong. I think that the history of M8+AB in 1939-40 may be a bit more complex than you suspect.

Regards,